Walter s



(No Model.)

W. S. MENDBNHALL.

COPYING BATH.

No. 366,421. Patented July 12', 1887.

PiTERs. Phelcrliwsnpher, wnhingw. L74 (l .ceive the spurs or trunnions 7 on the cover 8,

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

WALTER s. MENDENIIALL, oE oINoINNATI, oHIo, AssIGNoE To sAML. o. TATIIM a oo., or sAME PLAGE.

COPYING-BATH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Application tiled October 18, 1886.

To @ZZ when?, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER S. MENDEN` HALL, a resident of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented A certain new and useful Improvements in Copy ing-Baths, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to an improved copying-bath.

The object of my invention is to provide a convenient device for moistening the paper on which the impressions are to be taken, or moistening the blotting-paper, which is sometimes used to Inoisten the paper on which the impressions are to be taken, instead of moistening the paper itself. This object I accomplish by the features of construction and combination of devices hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of Iny improved bath, showing it in position for inserting or removing the -paper to be moist ened. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central vertical section with the bath inclosed. Fig. 3 is a detached sectional elevation, with dotted lines, showing the position of the cover when raised.

1 1 represent the sides of the blotter-tray. 2 represents the ends. 3 represents the bottom of the tray. 4 represents the legs for supporting the same.

5 represents lugsvplaced near the rear end of the tray, at each side thereof.

6 represen-ts recesses or offsets made in the sides of the tray in rear of the lugs 5, to rewhich project and move down into the re` cess when the cover is raised to the position shown in Fig. 1.

9 indicates a rigid false bottom having feet 10, which rest upon the bottom 3 of the tray, and thereby hold said false bottom in an elevated position to provide a waterspace, 12,

between the false .bottom and the bottom of the tray. By supporting the false bottom in an elevated position above the tray-bottom it is necessary to construct the false bottom of some rigid material, metal being very suitable.

Patent No. 366,421, dated July 12, 1887.

Serial No. 216,536. (No model.)

The false rigid bottom is pierced with transV i verse slots 11. These slots or openings allow the water which is beneath the false bottom to pass by evaporation up into the paper, which is supported upon sai'd false bottom. The legs 10 are sufficiently long to provide a space, 12, below the under surface of this bottom, between the under surfaces of the false bottom and the bottom of the tray, to hold the body of water.

13 represents a rigid hook or lug of curved form projecting from the forward end of the false bottom 9.

14 represents a lateral vrecess provided in the forward end of the tray. The upper edge of this recess is slotted down, so that when the hook 13 rests therein it will be below the top surface of the tray, to allow the cover 8 to pass below the top edges ofthe tray, so as to cover the same.

In the use of my blotter-bath it is essential that the water shall not touch the lower edges of the false bottom 9, as capillary attraction will draw it up into the paper and it will become too wet; hence the space 12 is provided.

I have found that by the use of this elevated false bottom having a space, 12, the paper is very uniformly moistened and kept in that condition for any desired length of time.

XVhen it is desired to use a blotter, the cover 8 is raised into the position shown in Fig. 1, the lugs 7 passing into the recesses 6, which, wil-h the rear end, hold the cover in an inclined raised position, as shown. Then the false bottom 9 is lifted by means of hook 13, and the false bottom 9 .may be pulled forward and rested upon the front end of the tray.

16 represents a knob on the cover S, by means of which it is raised and lowered.

Having described my invention,what I claim 1s- 1. A copying-bath consisting of the tray, the movable cover, and the detachable rigid false bottom having openings and supported in an elevated position above the bottom of the tray/,to provide a water-space between the false bottom and the tray-bottom, substantially as described.

y2. In combination with the blotter-tray ICO . having its front end provided with the lat- In testimony 'whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WALTER S. MENDENHALL Witnesses:

ROBERT ZAHNER, M. E. MILLIKAN. 

